Block

ABSTRACT

A set of building blocks are provided for building up to a unique structure using substantially simply designed blocks.  
     The building blocks according to the present invention are classified into a first piece P 1  and a second piece P 2 . The first piece P 1  has a groove G provided therein of which two surfaces Ga, Ga are tilted symmetrically from the reference plane H orthogonal to a flat plane S or a plane S′ including the flat plane S. The bottom Gb of the groove G extends parallel with the flat plane S. The second piece P 2  has at least a corner edge thereof arranged at a right angle, when viewed in the lengthwise direction of the groove G, to engage with the groove G with its one side Af coming substantially in face contact with the grooves G. In particular, the width WS of the flat plane S is greater than the width WG of the groove G along the direction perpendicular to the reference plane H while the flat plane S and the groove G are coincided with each other at the center of the width WS, WG.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a set of building blocks for buildingup together and fitting to each other, for example, as a toy or adecorative object to assist the development of a child's brain and therehabilitating action of a disabled person.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional set of building blocks include various shapes of woodenblocks which can simply be built up one over another from lower toupper. It is hardly contemplated to place, for example, a triangle blockin its inverted form on the horizontal plane. A resultant building ofblocks will thus be far from uniqueness.

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication (Heisei)11-319333, a modification has been proposed in which each block has foursides equally recessed in the surface thereof. It is however troublesometo fabricate the equally recessed sides of the block. When the recessedblocks are built up one over another, their recessed sides have to joinwith each other. This joining action is equal to that of theconventional blocks and may give a limitation on the building pattern.

Also, another modification including some blocks provided with V-shapedgrooves is disclosed as a building toy in Japanese Patent Laid-open(Showa)56-31783. The blocks are arranged with the V-shaped groovesubstantially identical in the width to the surface of the other side sothat it can neatly engage with the top of a roof block, hence exhibitingno balancing favor nor shaping uniqueness.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is hence an object of the present invention in view of the foregoingaspects to provide a set of building blocks which can be built up to aunique structure using substantially simply designed blocks.

For achievement of the object, the building blocks according to thepresent invention are characterized by a first piece having a grooveprovided therein of which two surfaces are tilted symmetrically from thereference plane orthogonal to a flat plane or a plane including the flatplane and of which bottom extends parallel with the flat plane and asecond piece having at least a corner edge thereof arranged at a rightangle, when viewed in the lengthwise direction of the groove, to engagewith the groove with its one side coming substantially in face contactwith the grooves, wherein the width of the flat plane is greater thanthe width of the groove along the direction perpendicular to thereference plane so that a combination of the building blocks built upcan have a twist in the intermediate, and the flat plane and the grooveare coincided with each other at the center of the width, whereby thebuilding blocks of the first pieces and/or the second pieces can bebuilt up with the joint between the corner edge and the groove and/orthe joint between the plant planes in balance as a whole.

According to the foregoing arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 a,when the corner edge A of the second piece P2 is closely engaged withthe groove G arranged in a V-shaped ditch or groove form, the secondpiece P2 remains inclined relative to the first piece P1. Theinclination can thus create a unit structure where the blocks arebalanced finely. In the drawings, the flat plane and the groove arematched at the center of the width WS and the width WG respectively withthe reference plane H.

As further characterized, the first piece may be arranged of asemi-circular cylindrical shape having the groove provided axially inthe uppermost of a top side thereof and a recess of a semi-circularcolumn shape provided axially in the widthwise center of a bottom sidethereof. This allows the blocks to be arranged of such a shape as shownin FIG. 4 which is unique and different from the typical building blocksof the prior art, whereby the combination can be modified in morevariations as shown in FIGS. 10 a to 10 c.

As further characterized, the second piece may be arranged, while a pairof the first pieces are used, in that one side at one of the two corneredges of the second piece extends parallel with one side at the other ofthe two corner edges and both the one sides are located at the same sideof the second piece so that each flat plane of the first piece is tiltedat 45 degrees to the horizontal plane to engage the corner edge with thecorresponding groove.

This allows a pair of the corner edges A1, A1 to be engaged with thegrooves G, G of the corresponding first pieces P1, P1 respectively asshown in FIG. 10 a. Alternatively, this allows the second piece P2 to bebridged between the two first pieces P1, P1 as shown in FIG. 10 c, thusexpanding a structure of the building blocks in the horizontal.

As further characterized, the first piece of which the flat plane tiltedat 45 degrees may be supported by a triangle block which has 45-degreecorner edges and can be removed when a combination of the buildingblocks have been built up.

As further characterized, the second piece may be arranged, while a pairof the first pieces are used, in that one side at one of the two corneredges of the second piece extends parallel with one side at the other ofthe two corner edges and both the one sides are located at the same sideof the second piece so that the two corner edges of the second piece isengaged with the corresponding groove in the first piece to make a facecontact between the recess 56 of a recessed triangle block 5 and thebottom side 31 of the first piece.

As further characterized, the second piece may consist of two blockswhich have substantially a right angle developed by jointing two corneredges of substantially 45 degrees so that the two joined corner edges ateither upper or lower side can be engaged with the groove in each thefirst piece.

This allows two blocks having a corner edge A3 at substantially 45degrees to be joined together to develop the second piece P2 as shown inFIG. 9 d. As the second piece P2 is modified in the shape, itscombination can be increased in the number of patterns.

As further characterized, a pair of cube blocks serving as the secondpieces may be placed in their 45 degrees tilted form on the horizontalplane, followed by the first piece being fitted on the corner edge ofeach cube block and another block being placed on the flat planes of thetwo first pieces.

For further understanding of the actions and advantages of presentinvention, the combination shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 a will be explainedin comparison with other combinations. As apparent from the drawings,the combination of the first piece P1 and the second piece P2 accordingto the present invention is implemented by a long square shaft block 1Aplaced over a triangle block 4. When the triangle block 4 receives aninclined load, the combination will fall down from the joint Jg but notthe base because the width WG of the groove G is smaller than the widthWS of the flat plane S.

Comparatively as shown in FIG. 14 b, a first piece 1′ has the width WS′of a flat plane S arranged equal to the width WG of a groove and itscombination will fall down from the joint Jf″ with the flat plane S in aknown manner.

FIG. 14 c illustrates a combination where a trapezoid block 4′ arrangedby truncating a triangle and having a small side Sm at the top is usedfor allowing the combination to fall down from an intentionally narrowedjoint. When the trapezoid block 4′ is slightly tilted to disturb thebalance of the combination, the weight of a long square shaft block 1Aacts on the narrow joint Jf′ causing the trapezoid block 4′ to dropdown. As the combination is highly unstable, it will create no fun. Withno use of the grooves, the centering of the blocks becomes troublesomethus making the building up of the blocks difficult. In fact, when thetriangle block 4 and the trapezoid block 4′ shown in FIGS. 14 a, 14 b,and 14 c are slightly tilted under the same condition, the combinationsshown in FIGS. 14 b and 14 c will fall down from the joints Jf′ and Jf″quicker than the combination shown in FIG. 14 a.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the second piece P2 tilted relative tothe first piece P1, showing a periphery of the groove. When the secondpiece P2 is tilted relative to the first piece P1, its portion directlyfacing the corner edge L1 of the first piece P1 is shifted by a distanced1 to the location L2 or the corner edge A of the second piece P2 ismoved by a distance d2 from the bottom Gb of the groove. During themovement by d1 or d2, a frictional resistance will however be developed.This prevents the corner edge A of the triangle block 4 from moving outfrom the groove G. For comparison, since a trapezoid block 4′ (P2′)shown in FIG. 15 b has its portion L3 held in contact with the firstpiece P1 but its other portion L4 kept movable, its inclination willhardly be prevented by any counter force. In brief, while the fallingdown at the joint Jg is permitted by the width WG of the groove arrangedsmaller than the width WS of the flat plane, the frictional resistancebetween the corner edge A and the groove G can prevent the falling downat the joint Jg. The greater the load, the higher the frictionalresistance will increase. Accordingly, when the blocks are built uphigher, the joint Jg will be more stable.

It is now assumed referring to FIG. 15 a that the center line of theblock is tilted at an angle M from the center of the groove G as thecorner edge A moves. The smaller the groove width WG, the greater theangle M will be increased so long as the distance d2 remains unchanged.Accordingly, when the groove width WG is smaller as compared with thewidth WS of the flat plane S, the block is tilted through a greaterrange of the angle M and its tilting can be controlled with much ease.The present invention permits the tilting of the block against thehorizontal to be favorably compensated by the functional movement of thejoint Jg.

FIG. 14 d illustrates a functional model of the compensating movementfor ease of theoretical understanding of the advantageous combinationshown in FIG. 14 a. The joint Jg is expressed by a V symbol while thejoint Jf with the flat plane S is denoted by the circle and thedirection of the groove is denoted by OL1. In detail, the floor 0 is amember of the functional movement and thus applied as a base piece P0.The base piece P0 may be replaced by any other building block. In thisapplication, a group or first set G1 of the floor 0, the cube block 1,and the triangle block 4 are referred to as a unit of the combination.

The above advantageous combination remains unchanged when the flat planeS and the groove G are inverted upside down as shown in FIGS. 16 a and16 b. As shown, both the first piece P1 and the second piece P2 are cubeblocks. As the flat plane S on the first piece P1 is supported by thebottom side 41 of the triangle block 4 serving as the base piece P0, thesecond piece P2 can be held in stableness. More particularly, thetriangle block 4 and the two cube blocks 1 constitute a second set G2which is a reverse of the first set G1, showing the unit of thecombination.

FIG. 17 illustrates more intricate examples of the combination. As athird group G3 and a fourth group G4 remain unchanged, a fifth group G5is placed upside down. The third group G3 is differentiated from thefourth group G4 by the fact that the direction of the groove isdifferent between OL1 and OL2, showing variations.

The models of the combination shown in FIGS. 14 d, 16 b, and 17 c willbe explained in summary. In the first to fifth groups, a force ofcompression is generated between the base piece P0 and the second pieceP2 due to the specific gravity and the weight of the other blocks. Theforce of compression will create the above described movement. Eachgroup involves both the restriction by the effect of the grooves G andthe freedom on the flat plane S. The groove G still has a degree offreedom for offsetting an error created by the blocks built up on theflat plane S. No conventional building blocks can incorporate such arigid and organic functional combination between the blocks.

FIG. 18 a illustrates a fundamental shape B of the first piece P1. Thegroove width WG is coincided at the center line CL with the width WS ofthe flat plane S. The fundamental shape B may be modified to such acubic shape 1 as shown in FIG. 18 b or such a doughnut half shape 3 asshown in FIG. 18 c. As shown in FIG. 18 b, the cube block 1 has a topside 12 thereof margined for engagement with a triangle block 4 at theintermediate. The top side 12 of the cube block 1 can thus be utilizedat optimum.

As further characterized, both the sides at the corner edge may bearranged to come substantially in face contact with the groove. Also,the other side at the corner edge may be arranged of a cylindrical planeto come substantially in linear contact with the groove. This enablesnot only the combination shown in FIG. 12 where the block is held withits two sides Af and Af coming in face contact with the groove G butalso other variations of the combination such as shown in FIGS. 13 a and13 b where the cylindrical side Ar is held up.

As further characterized, the ridge line Ab along the corner edge ateach end of the flat plane may extend parallel with the lengthwisebottom Gb of the groove. This allows the engagement of the second pieceP2 with the groove G to be implemented with the blocks tilted as shownin FIG. 10 c, thus ensuring to build up a unique structure with balance.

As further characterized, the second piece may have the flat plane andthe groove. This allows the first piece P1 to serve as the second pieceP2 fitted into the groove, as shown in FIG. 10 b. Alternatively, asshown in FIG. 10 c, another small triangle block 4A can be fitted intothe groove G of the long square shaft block 1A which has engaged withthe grooves G of the two doughnut half blocks 3, thus permitting a lessnumber of the blocks to build up a more intricate structure of thecombination.

As further characterized, the first piece may be arranged offundamentally a cubic shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and/ora cylindrical shape. This allows any conventional building block of atypical shape to be provided with a groove G, such as shown in FIG. 2 or3, and thus combined with the second piece P2, this building up astructure of the combination different from that of the prior art.

As further characterized, the second piece may be arranged offundamentally a right-angle isosceles shape. This allows every corneredge at the right angle to be engaged with the groove, whereby aninverted form of the combination can be implemented as is hardlyfeasible in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 1 a.

As set forth above, the building blocks according to the presentinvention are unelaborate and inexpensive in the fabricating processwhere the first piece is provided simply with a groove. Their advantagesare as follows:

1) Since the width of the flat plane is greater than the width of thegroove along the direction perpendicular to the reference plane, thecombination of the blocks can be permitted to fall down easily at thejoint with the grooves as compare with that built simply on the flatplane and simultaneously ensured to provide a degree of stability due tothe frictional resistance developed in the grooves at the joint.

2) Since the flat plane and the groove are coincided with each other atthe center of the width, the combination of the blocks at the unstablejoint can be less affected by a lateral stress thus allowing thecentering of the upper and lower blocks to be carried out with muchease.

3) Since the second piece is fitted at the corner edge into the groove,it can be tilted relative to the first piece thus allowing a visuallyunique structure of the blocks to be built up.

4) Since the groove is narrower in the width than the unit side, thecombination of the blocks can develop a twist in the intermediate thusexhibiting a visual uniqueness.

According to the present invention, more modifications of thecombination may be made of which the advantages are as follows:

5) Since the groove is narrower in the width than the flat plane, theinclination between the blocks can finely be controlled at anyintermediate time to offset an error created during the building up ofthe blocks.

6) Since the joint between the groove and the flat plane has a degree ofdesign freedom, it can favorably be modified in the configuration thuspermitting more visual variations of the combination.

7) While the building up of the blocks over the flat plane is free inthe direction, the engagement with the grooves is significantlydirectional. Accordingly, when the building up of the blocks on the flatplane is conducted so that all the grooves extend in the same direction,the combination can be balanced on the plane perpendicular to thegrooves. Alternatively, when the building up of the blocks on the flatplane is conducted so that the grooves extend in different directions,the combination can be balanced in three dimensions. As a result, morevariations of the structure can be enjoyed.

With any combination of the above advantages, the combination of thebuilding blocks can produce an apparently contradictory effect orfeature where its structure appears visually attractive, unique, andfragile and when loaded, becomes stable, thus improving the performanceas a play toy or a decorative object. Also, as the building blocks areprovided with the grooves, they can be used as conventional blocks whileensuring the above described novel advantages.

Other objects, arrangements, features of the present invention will beapparent from the detailed description in “Best Mode for embodying theInvention”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a set of building blocks arranged in thestorage form according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c are a perspective view of a square shaft block, aperspective view if another square shaft block which is two timesgreater in the height than the block shown in FIG. 2 a, and aperspective view of a further square shaft block which is substantiallytwo times greater in the thickness than the block shown in FIG. 2 arespectively;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are a perspective view of a cylinder block and aperspective view of another cylinder block which is two times greaterthan the block shown in FIG. 3 a respectively;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a doughnut half block;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a triangle block;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a recessed triangle block;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of doughnut block;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a combination of the blocks;

FIGS. 9 a to 9 d are front views showing different combinations of theblocks;

FIG. 10 a to 10 c are front view showing further combinations of theblocks;

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a combination of the blocks;

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a detailed relationship between theblocks;

FIGS. 13 a and 13 b are a front view showing another detailedrelationship between the blocks and a cross sectional views taken alongthe line A-A of FIG. 13 a respectively;

FIGS. 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d are a front view of a combination ofthe blocks, a front view of a combination of the block which aresubstantially equal in the width between the groove and the bottom, afront view of a combination of the blocks which have no grooves, and afunctional model diagram of the combination shown in FIG. 14 arespectively;

FIGS. 15 a and 16 b are an enlarged front view of a primary part showinga positional relationship between the groove and the corner whendisplaced and an enlarged front view of a primary part showing acombination of the blocks having no grooves respectively;

FIGS. 16 a and 16 b are a front view showing a combination of the blockswith the flat sides positioned upper than the grooved sides and afunctional model diagram of the combination shown in FIG. 16 a;

FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, and 17 c are a front view showing a more intricatecombination of the blocks, a side view of the same, and a functionalmodel diagram of the combination shown in FIG. 17 a respectively; and

FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c are a front view showing a combination of theblocks, a front view showing a modification of the same, and a frontview showing another modification of the same respectively.

BEST MODES FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in more detail referring to theaccompanying drawings.

A set of building blocks according to the present invention are storedin a box 100 which is equal in the thickness to the blocks, as shown inFIG. 1. The building blocks are arranged of such shapes as shown inFIGS. 2 to 7. The blocks are substantially equal in the thickness andtheir dimensional radio of the vertical to the horizontal is as uniformas 1:2. It is then assumed in this embodiment that the unit dimension is35 mm and its doubled dimension is 70 mm.

The building blocks include a first piece P1 having a groove G, whichwill be described later in more detail, and a second piece P2 arrangedto be accepted by the groove G, as best shown in FIG. 12. The two piecesare simply relative to each other. The first piece P1 provided with thegroove G may serve as the second piece P2 in the combination as shown inFIG. 13 a. The two pieces P1 and P2 are placed one over the other,starting from the floor 0.

Some primary shapes of the building blocks of the embodiment will now beexplained.

Referring to FIG. 2 a, a cube block 1 has each side thereof sized by thesquare of the unit dimension, including a bottom side 11 having a flatplane S and a top side 12 which extends parallel with the bottom side 11and has a V-shaped groove 13 scored substantially across the centerthereof. The top and bottom sides are parallel and identical in theshape. Accordingly, as the groove 13 is provided in substantially thecenter of the top side 12, the center of the width WS of the planersurface S of the bottom side 11 and the center of the width WG of thegroove 13 are coincided with each other at the reference plane H. Thiscan be equal to the other blocks of which the top and bottom sides areidentical in the size. While the two opposite sides are parallel witheach other, a right-angled linear corner edge A1 is defined between anyadjacent two of the bottom side 11, the top side 12, the two lateralsides 14, 14, and the two, front and rear, sides 15, 15. Also, thebottom Gb of the groove 13 extends parallel with the ridge line Ab alongthe right-angled linear corner edge A1 between the bottom side 11 andthe lateral side 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates a triangle block 4 arranged of a triangular prismshape comprising a bottom side 41 having a flat plane S, two slopingsides 42, 42 having a flat plane Af, and two, front and rear, sides 45,45 having a flat plane Af which extend parallel with each other and areof a right isosceles shape having two equal side lines along the slopingsides 42, 42. Each of the two equal side lines of the right isoscelesshape of the two, front and rear, sides 45, 45 is equal to two times theunit dimension while the thickness or distance between the two sides 45,45 is equal to the unit dimension. A triangular corner edge A3 isdefined between the bottom side 41 and the sloping side 42 intersectingat 45 degrees while a right-angled linear corner edge A1 is definedbetween the two sloping sides 42, 42.

The cube block 1 and the triangle block 4 can be assembled in such acombination as shown in FIG. 12 where the groove G of the cube block 1accepts the right-angled linear corner edge A1 of the triangle block 4.In this case, the cube block 1 serves as the first piece P1 and thetriangle block 4 serves as the second piece P2. The groove G in the cubeblock 1 is defined by the groove bottom Gb and two groove surfaces Ga.The groove surfaces Ga are symmetrically tilted at substantially 45degrees of the tilting angle C1 from the reference plane H orthogonal tothe flat plane S. The groove bottom Gb extends parallel with the ridgeline Ab along the right-angled linear corner edge between the two flatplanes S as is disposed at which the two groove surfaces Ga intersecteach other at substantially 90 degrees of the groove angle C2. It is nownoted that the depth of the groove G is 6 mm orthogonally from the topside as will be identical to that of each groove.

When the groove G accepts the right-angled linear corner edge A1 of thetriangle block 4, its two surfaces Ga come into face contact with thetwo flat planes Af which define the right-angled linear corner edge A1therebetween. Since the weight of the triangle block 4 is uniformlyreceived by the two groove surfaces Ga, the blocks can be built up withbalance.

FIG. 2 a illustrates a long square shaft block 1A arranged of avertically extending parallelepiped shape which is two times greater inthe height than the cube block 1, including a bottom side 11A and a topside 12A which are identical to the bottom side 11 and the top side 12of the cube block 1. A groove 13A identical in the shape to the groove13 is provided in substantially the center of the top side 12A to extendfrom the front side to the rear side. While each of the bottom side 11Aand the top side 12A is sized by the square of the unit dimension, theheight of the block 1A is equal to two times the unit dimension.

FIG. 2 c illustrates a wide square shaft block 1B arranged of athicknesswisely extending parallelepiped shape which is two timesgreater in the thickness along the groove bottom Gb than the cube block1, including a bottom side 11B, a top side 12B, and two, front and rear,sides 15B, 15B which are identical to the two, front and rear, sides 15,15 of the cube block 1. A groove 13B identical in the shape to thegroove 13 is provided in substantially the center of the top side 12B toextend in the thicknesswise direction. While the distance between thebottom side 11B and the top side 12B is equal to the unit dimension, thelength of the groove Gb as the thickness of the block is equal to twotimes the unit dimension. A right-angled linear corner edge A1 isdefined between any two adjacent sides of either the long square shaftblock 1A or the wide square shaft 1B. The ridge line Ab along theright-angled linear corner edge between the bottom side 11A or 11B andthe lateral side extends parallel with the groove bottom Gb. Also, anytwo opposite planes Af are parallel with each other.

FIG. 3 a illustrates a cylinder block 2 arranged of a cylindrical shapeincluding a bottom side 21 having a flat plane S, a top side 22 arrangedin parallel with the bottom side 21, and a lateral side 24 having acylindrical plane Ar. A groove 23 is scored along the diameter in thetop side 22. The height and the diameter of the bottom side 21 and thetop side 22 are equal to the unit dimension. A circular corner edge A2at a right angle is defined between the flat plane Af and thecylindrical plane Ar.

FIG. 4 illustrates a doughnut half block 3 arranged of a semi-circularcylindrical shape including a bottom side 31 having a flat plane S, atop side 34 having an arcuate plane Ar, and two, front and rear, sides35, 35 having a fan-shaped flat plane Af and arranged in parallel witheach other. A groove 33 is scored along the axial direction in theuppermost end of the top side 34. The bottom side 31 has a recess 36 ofa semi-circular cylindrical shape provided axially in the center alongthe widthwise direction thereof. The thickness along the length of thegroove Gb and the diameter of the notch 36 are equal to the unitdimension. Also, the width of the bottom side 31 is equal to the unitdimension. A right-angled linear corner edge A1 is defined between theflat plane Af and the flat plane S. Defined between the flat plane Afand the arcuate plane Ar is an arcuate side linear corner edge A2 at theright angle. The ridge line Ab along the arcuate side corner edge A2extends parallel with the bottom Gb of the groove 33.

The cylinder block 2 and the doughnut half block 3 may be assembledtogether as shown in FIG. 13 a. The doughnut half block 3 serves as thefirst piece P1 while the cylinder block 2 serves as the second piece P2.The groove G in the doughnut half block 3 is identical in theconstruction to the groove G in the cube block 1 and is arranged inwhich its side surfaces Ga are symmetrically tilted at substantially 45degrees of the tilting angle C1 from the reference plane H orthogonal tothe flat plane S. The two surfaces Ga intersect each other atsubstantially 90 degrees of the groove angle C2 along the bottom Gb ofthe groove G and the ridge line Ab along the right-angled linear corneredge adjacent to the flat plane S extends parallel with the flat planeS.

When the groove G accepts the circular corner edge A2 of the cylinderblock 2, its surface Ga comes into face contact with the flat plane Afwhich is defined by the circular corner edge A2. Simultaneously, thecylindrical plane Ar defined between the two circular corner edges A2comes into linear contact with the groove surface Ga. Since the weightof the cylinder block 2 is uniformly received by the groove surface Gaat the face contact and the other groove surface Ga at the linearcontact, the blocks can be built up with balance.

FIG. 3 b illustrates a long cylinder block 2A arranged of a verticallyextending cylindrical shape which is two times greater in the heightthan the cylinder block 2, including a bottom side 21A and a top side22A which are identical to the bottom side 21 and the top side 22 of thecylinder block 2, and a lateral side 24 having a cylindrical plane Af. Agroove 23A identical in the shape to the groove 23 is scored along thediameter in substantially the center of the top side 22A. A circularcorner edge A2 at a right angle is defined between the flat plane Af andthe cylindrical plane Ar. The height of the block 2A is equal to twotimes the unit dimension.

FIG. 6 illustrates a recessed triangle block 5 arranged substantiallyidentical in the shape and size to the triangle block 4, including abottom side 51 having a flat plane S and two, front and rear, sides 55,55 having a flat plane Af which extend parallel with each other and areof a right isosceles shape having two equal side lines defined by twosloping sides 52, 52 of flat plane Af. A recess 56 is provided in thecenter of the bottom side 51 extending thicknesswisely between the two,front and rear, sides 55, 55. The recess 56 is arranged of a rightisosceles shape in the cross section for accepting the right-angledlinear corner edge of any other block. The width of the recess 56 isequal to the unit dimension while each of the two sloping side lines ofthe recess 56 extends 36 mm. A triangular corner edge A3 is definedbetween the bottom side 51 and the sloping side 52 which intersect eachother at 45 degrees while a right-angled linear corner edge A1 betweenthe two sloping sides 52, 52 extends from the front side 55 to the rearside 55.

FIG. 7 illustrates a doughnut block 6 arranged of a hollow cylindricalshape, including a bottom side 61 having a flat plane S, a top side 62arranged parallel with the bottom side 61, and a lateral side 64 havinga circular plane Ar. The doughnut block 6 has a through hole 66 providedaxially in the center thereof. Two grooves 63, 63 are provided along thediameter in the top side 62 as intersect each other. The diameter of thebottom side 61 and the top side 62 is equal to two times the unitdimension while the height of the block 6 is equal to the unitdimension. As its diameter is 36 mm, the through hole 66 generouslyaccepts the cylinder block 2 or the long cylinder block 2A. A circularcorner edge A2 at the right angle is defined between the flat plane Afand the circular plane Ar.

Referring to FIG. 12, further provided are a small triangle block 4A, amiddle triangle block 4B, a narrow block 7, and a cylinder half block 8.The small triangle 4A is similar in the shape to the triangle block 4 asits scale ratio to the triangle block 4 is 1:2. The middle triangleblock 4B is a right isosceles identical to substantially a half of thetriangle block 4 provided by dividing vertically along the center linefrom the right angle vertex. The arrow block 7 has such a shape that aright isosceles equal to the small triangle block 4A is reduced at thelinear corner edge A1 from the triangle block 4. The cylinder half block8 is equal to substantially a half of the cylinder block 2 provided bydividing vertically along the center line.

The triangle block 4 and the small triangle block 4A can serve as thesecond piece P2. The other blocks 4B, 7, and 8 can serve as either thefirst P1 or second piece P2.

Some examples of the combination of the building blocks will bedescribed referring to FIGS. 8 to 11.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the combination where the wide squareshaft block 1B is placed on the horizontal plane of a desk or the likeand its groove 13B receives at the front half the linear corner edge A1of the cube block 1 and at the rear half the right-angled corner edge A1of the triangle block 4. In this combination, the wide square shaftblock 1B serves as the first piece P1 while the cube block 1 and thetriangle block 4 serve as the second pieces P2.

FIG. 9 a illustrates another example of the combination where the longsquare shaft block 1A serves as the first piece P1 and accepts at itsgroove 13A the linear corner edge A1 of the cube block 1 serving as thesecond piece P2. While the cube block 1 is tilted at 45 degrees, itslinear corner edge A1′ coming opposite to the linear corner edge A1accepted in the groove 13A is the uppermost point. FIG. 9 b illustratesa modification of the combination shown in FIG. 9 a where the doughnuthalf block 3 serving as the first piece P1 is engaged at its groove 33with the linear corner edge A1′ of the cube block 1. FIG. 9 cillustrates a further example of the combination where the long squareshaft block 1A serving as the first piece P1 is engaged at its groove13A with the linear corner edge A1 of the recessed triangle block 5serving as the second piece P2 while the recess 56 of the recessedtriangle block 5 receives the doughnut block 6, making a balance.

FIG. 9 d illustrates a further example of the combination starting withtwo of the recessed triangle blocks 5, 5 joined to each other thus todevelop substantially 90 degrees of the corner at each abutment of thetriangle corner edges A3, A3 and serve in a pair as the second piece P2.The abutment corner is then received by the groove 33 of the doughnuthalf block 3 placed on the horizontal plane S7 as serving as the firstpiece P1. Another doughnut half block 3 is placed over the oppositeabutment corner at 90 degrees of the two recessed triangle blocks 5, 5remaining balanced. At the time, the groove G of each doughnut halfblock 3 allows the two recessed triangle blocks 5, 5 to be closely heldtogether and joined to each other. The two recessed triangle blocks 5, 5may be engaged at their linear corner edges A1, A1 with the groove 33 ofthe doughnut half block 3.

FIG. 10 a illustrates a still further example of the combination wherethe long square shaft block 1A serving as the second piece P2 is placedon the horizontal plane S7 and engaged at both the linear corner edgesA1, A1 of its top side 12A with the grooves 33, 33 of the two doughnuthalf blocks 3, 3 respectively serving as the first pieces P1. Then, therecessed triangle block 5 is placed on the two doughnut half block 3with both the linear corner edges A1, A1 of its top side remainingengaged with the corresponding grooves 33, 33 so that its inner side atits recess 56 comes into face contact with the bottom sides 31, 31 ofboth the doughnut half blocks 3, 3. Since any stress for disengaging thedoughnut half blocks 3, 3 from the corresponding linear corner edges A1,A1 is symmetrically relieved by the inner side at the recess 56 of therecessed triangle block 5, the blocks can be built up with balance.

FIG. 10 b illustrates a still further example of the combinationstarting the doughnut half block 3 placed in an inverted form on thehorizontal plane S′. More specifically, the doughnut half block 3 issupported on the plane S′ at a pair of supporting lines F, each definedbetween the top side 34 and the groove surface Ga. Two of the cubeblocks 1, 1 are placed symmetrically at the left and the right on thebottom side 31 of the doughnut half block 3. Then, two of the smalltriangle blocks 4A, 4A are placed in the groove engagement on thecorresponding cube blocks 1, 1. Since the weight of the cube blocks 1, 1and the small triangle blocks 4A, 4A is uniformly received by the twosupporting lines F, F, the combination f the blocks can be balancedbetween the right and the left. In this example, the cube blocks 1, 1serve as the first pieces P1 while the small triangle blocks 4A, 4Aserve as the second pieces P2.

FIG. 10 c illustrates a still further example of the combination wheretwo of the triangle blocks 4, 4 are place on the horizontal plane S′ andtheir sloping sides 42, 42 support the doughnut half blocks 3, 3respectively serving as the first pieces P1. The long square shaft block1A serving as the second piece P2 is engaged at both the linear corneredges A1, A1 of its bottom side 11A with the grooves 33, 33 of the twodoughnut half blocks 3, 3. Then, the small triangle block 4A serving asthe first piece P1 is placed on the long square shaft block 1A andanother triangle block 4 is finally placed on the small triangle block4A. At the time, the two opposite lateral sides 14A, 14A of the longsquare shaft block 1A along the linear corner edges A1, A1 are parallelwith as accepted in the corresponding grooves 33, 33 of the doughnuthalf blocks 3, 3 while the bottom side 11A extends parallel with thehorizontal plane S′. When the two small triangle blocks 4, 4 are removedfrom the corresponding doughnut half blocks 3, 3, the remaining blockscan securely be held in a building from but not separated from oneanother. More particularly, the surface Ga at one side of each groove 33extending parallel with the horizontal plane S′ are loaded with theweight of the blocks 1A, 4A, and 4 while the other surface Ga of eachgroove 33 receives a lateral stress from the doughnut half block 3. Asthe lateral stresses against the groove surfaces Ga, Ga are urged fromboth sides, they are offset to make a balance. All the weight issupported along the support line F between the bottom side 31 and thetop side 34 of the doughnut half block 3 at either side.

FIG. 11 illustrates a still further example of the combination where twoof the long square shaft blocks 1A, 1A are spaced by a distance fromeach other and engaged with the corresponding cylinder blocks 2, 2 atthe upper. At the time, the two corresponding surfaces Ga, Ga of thegrooves in the two cylinder blocks 2, 2 are parallel with each otherwhile the other two surfaces Ga, Ga extend parallel with the horizontalplane S′. The two surfaces Ga, Ga of the grooves extending parallel withthe horizontal plane S′ then support directly the two triangle corneredges A3 of the triangle block 4. The doughnut half block 3 is placed onthe linear corner edge A1 of the doughnut half block 3. At the time, thebottom side 21 of each cylinder block 2 having the flat plane Af staysin face contact with the surface Ga of the groove in the correspondinglong square shaft block 1A while the lateral side 24 having the circularplane Ar is in linear contact with the other surface Ga of the same. Asthe weight of the upper blocks is equally received by the two supportingblocks at the left and the right, the blocks can be balanced and builtup to develop a desired bcorner edge form. The two long square shaftblocks 1A, 1A and the doughnut half blocks 3 serve as the first piecesP1 while the cylinder blocks 2, 2 and the triangle block 4 serve as thesecond pieces P2.

Finally, other feasible embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed.

The unit dimension described in the foregoing embodiment of the buildingblocks is not limited to 35 mm or 70 mm but may arbitrarily bedetermined as desired. More specifically, 35 mm is the unit dimensionwhile 70 mm is two times the unit dimension in the embodiment. Theblocks may be fabricated from any other applicable material than wood,such as plastic resin, cork, or sponge, which can provide a favorabledegree of physical strength particularly at the grooves.

In the foregoing embodiment, the blocks are classified into two types,the first piece P1 and the second piece P2. The combination between thefirst piece P1 and the second piece P2 having at least one corner edgeis not limitative but may be implemented by any other modification withbalance. It is at least conditioned that the engagement between a grooveand a corner edge is involved while the pattern of building form isindefinite.

Also, the foregoing embodiment defines that the depth of the groove is 6mm and the width WG of the groove is ⅓ the unit dimension. The depth ofthe groove is not limited to 6 mm. The blocks in a building form may bebalanced with ease when the width (or depth) of the groove is greater orwith difficulty when the same is smaller. The size can be determineddepending on the use and purpose under the principle shown in FIG. 15 a.

For ease of the description of the foregoing embodiment, the buildingblocks are assembled in such a combination as shown in FIG. 12. Thecombination is not limited to that shown in FIG. 12. The first piece P1and the second piece P2 may arbitrarily be determined in the number andtype. For example, the second piece P2 with no groove may be implementedby a block which is arranged identical in the shape to the cube block 1but having no groove.

In the foregoing embodiment, the ratio between two dimensions for theblocks is 1:2 as bound by the definition. The ratio may be 1:3 or anycombination of integral numerals if desired. The ratio of 1:0.5 may alsobe feasible.

Although the shape at the groove bottom Gb and the corner edge line Abis arranged at substantially a right angle in the foregoing embodiment,it may be rounded so long as the engagement between the groove and thecorner edge remains favorable.

The alphabets and numerals used in the appended claims are applied forease of the description referring to the drawings and shall not bind thearrangement shown in the drawings of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The building blocks according to the present invention is favorably usedas a children's playing toy and applicable to any action for preventingfrom senile dementia or rehabilitating the fingers of a disabled person.Also, the building blocks can freely be assembled to build up adecorative object.

1. A set of building blocks characterized by a first piece (P1) having agroove (G) provided therein of which two surfaces (Ga, Ga) are tiltedsymmetrically from the reference plane (H) orthogonal to a flat plane(S) or a plane (S′) including the flat plane (S) and of which bottom(Gb) extends parallel with the flat plane (S) and a second piece (P2)having at least a corner edge (A) thereof arranged at a right angle,when viewed in the lengthwise direction of the groove (G), to engagewith the groove (G) with its one side (Af) coming substantially in facecontact with the grooves (G), wherein the width (WS) of the flat plane(S) is greater than the width (WG) of the groove (G) along the directionperpendicular to the reference plane (H) so that a combination of thebuilding blocks built up can have a twist in the intermediate, and theflat plane (S) and the groove (G) are coincided with each other at thecenter of the width (WS, WG), whereby the building blocks of the firstpieces and/or the second pieces can be built up with the joint (Jg)between the corner edge (A) and the groove (G) and/or the joint (Jf)between the plant planes (S) in balance as a whole.
 2. A set of buildingblocks according to claim 1, wherein the first piece (P1) is arranged ofa semi-circular cylindrical shape having the groove (G) provided axiallyin the uppermost of a top side (34) thereof and a recess (36) of asemi-circular column shape provided axially in the widthwise center of abottom side (31) thereof.
 3. A set of building blocks according to claim1, wherein while a pair of the first pieces are used, the second piece(P2) is arranged in that one side (Af) at one of the two corner edges(A) of the second piece (P2) extends parallel with one side (Af) at theother of the two corner edges (A) and both the one sides are located atthe same side of the second piece (P2) so that each flat plane (S) ofthe first piece is tilted at 45 degrees to the horizontal plane (S′) toengage the corner edge (A) with the corresponding groove (G).
 4. A setof building blocks according to any of claim 3, wherein the first piece(P1) of which the flat plane (S) tilted at 45 degrees is supported by atriangle block (4) which has 45-degree corner edges and can be removedwhen a combination of the building blocks have been built up.
 5. A setof building blocks according to claim 1, wherein while a pair of thefirst pieces are used, the second piece (P2) is arranged in that oneside (Af) at one of the two corner edges (A) of the second piece (P2)extends parallel with one side (Af) at the other of the two corner edges(A) and both the one sides are located at the same side of the secondpiece (P2) so that the two corner edges (A) of the second piece isengaged with the corresponding groove (G) in the first piece to make aface contact between the recess (56) of a recessed triangle block (5)and the bottom side (31) of the first piece (P1).
 6. A set of buildingblocks according to any of claim 1, wherein the second piece (P2)consists of two blocks which have substantially a right angle developedby jointing two corner edges (A3) of substantially 45 degrees so thatthe two joined corner edges (A3) at either upper or lower side can beengaged with the groove (G) in each the first piece (P1).
 7. A set ofbuilding blocks according to claim 1, wherein a pair of cube blocksserving as the second pieces (P2) are placed in their 45 degrees tiltedform on the horizontal plane (S′), the first piece (P1) is fitted on thecorner edge (A) of each cube block, and another block is placed on theflat planes (S) of the two first pieces (P1).
 8. A set of buildingblocks according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein both the sides (Af,Af) at the corner edge (A) are arranged to come substantially in facecontact with the groove (G).
 9. A set of building blocks according toany of claims 1 to 5, wherein the other side (Ar) at the corner edge (A)is arranged of a cylindrical plane to come substantially in linearcontact with the groove (G).
 10. A set of building blocks according toany of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ridge line (Ab) along the corner edge(A) at each end of the flat plane (S) extends parallel with thelengthwise bottom (Gb) of the groove (G).
 11. A set of building blocksaccording to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second piece (P2) has theflat plane (S) and the groove (G).
 12. A set of building blocksaccording to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first piece (P1) isarranged of fundamentally a cubic shape, a rectangular parallele pipedshape, and/or a cylindrical shape.
 13. A set of building blocksaccording to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second piece (P2) isarranged of fundamentally a right-angle isosceles shape.